When was the last time you actually heard elevator music?

Question

This has always been one of the longest running jokes regarding music, when popular songs are mutilated into Muzak and piped into the steel cage that takes us to the top floor. However, I can’t remember too many times of late that I’ve actually heard music on an elevator. It seems to have gone extinct like the phone booth. The last time for me was a Staybridge Suites in Ohio. The song was Tainted Love and I nearly died laughing.

Sookie - That's incredible. To think you'd be more likely to hear Satchel in Muzak-ed form in a grocery than on ANY radio station. You were likely the only one in the store who knew the actual artist.

Mike - That would make me hysterical. Better yet, I'd love to hear a rendition of Motley Crue doing Girls, Girls, Girls.

Fonzie - That's exactly it, we made so much fun out of it that it went into hiding due to embarrassment. Children of the 70’s rule!

MachPen – OK, maybe not as extinct as the phone booths. Our gas stations only play real music and those voiceovers trying to sell you coffee and doughnuts. That’s hilarious.

Prof - Zamphir should be cutting you some checks for all the advertisement. I might have to buy one of his albums for the gag value.

Answer 1

Honestly, it's been years. So long ago that I can't remember where, when or what it was.

Now it seems like stores are playing the actual tracks as opposed to watered-down versions. I heard Satchel in the grocery store a couple of weeks ago...that was awesome!

Edit: considering that I was there at lunch time, and the median age of the shoppers in there had to be 55, I think I WAS the only one who knew it.

That was another occasion where I'm sure I was busted singing. :)

Answer 2

It's been awhile since I've actually heard it in an elevator but I hear it in the markets where I do my food shopping every week! As a matter of fact all the food markets in my area have elevator music. Shoppers must think I'm weird because I always start grinning whenever I hear my favorite songs from the sixties or seventies being played.
Just imagine hearing Foxey Lady played as elevator music!

Answer 3

Thinking really hard.... I wanna say it was about a two years agao when I was in Las Vegas for a convention with my wife. One of our associates pointed out the fact that the Muzak was a Van Halen song and started giving me hell. (I'm not kidding, it was "Jump.")

I can't speak of the relevance of this in terms of your question, because I don't think I've been in an elevator that travelled more than a floor or two since then.







NP: "My Morning Song" - The Black Crowes


*** I must admit, the thought of "Girls Girls Girls" being converted to Muzak might just be one of the funniest thoughts of the day.

Answer 4

Well actually it was the other day at the one sky scraper the city I live in has.The song was of course all Muzak styled but the song it's self made m laugh so hard. It was Thunderstruck by AC/DC I laughed so hard I couldn't get off of the elevator at my floor.

Answer 5

Before we moved two years ago, my husband and I frequented a Chinese buffet with really bad Muzak. (Sounds like a disgusting side dish, doesn't it?) Makes it hard to digest your General Tso's chicken when you're almost falling off your chair laughing at an awesomely bad "We Are the World" done Muzak-style.

Answer 6

The funny thing is, even though I don't think I've ever heard music being pumped into an elevator (or lift, as i like to call them), I always use the term "elevator music" for music I think bland and uninteresting, the kind of inoffensive stuff you hear on most radio stations. Strange...

Answer 7

I went to the doctor last week and heard The Final Countdown, muzak style in the elevator. It cracked me and my bf up, so we did what anybody would do, and started singing and dancing around to it. We were goofing off so much we didn't realize the door opening... A UPS guy stepped on and gave us a look. I pointed up to the speakers and said.. uh, Final Countdown.. He nodded as if he understood, fortunately we were to our floor and exited quickly.

Answer 8

Here's where I get to give the mad love props to the innovative genius Zamphir. He pumps air into that magical pan flute of his and next thing you know your favorite songs are reborn. He is the master of Muzak. The King of your local shopping mart. He holds manifest destiny over all your favorite hotels. Bless you merciful deity Zamphir, and the pan flute you wield so masterfully.

*******************
Zamphir will not disappoint my friend. He plays the hits!

Spooky, that may in fact be the awesomest thing I've heard. I've got to find it.

Answer 9

Extinct? Oh, it's alive and well. I heard an "elevator" version of Genesis' "Invisible Touch" at a Chevron station just this weekend.
It was an alto-sax version...really funny.

Answer 10

Saturday, an insipid version of Slade's Merry Christmas in a department store.